Harboring a new spirit

City's renewal a thrill on eve of its Superfest

City's renewal a thrill on eve of its Superfest

June 30, 2006|ANDREW S. HUGHES Tribune Staff Writer

Benton Harbor City Commissioner Harold Hampton uses the word "awesome" repeatedly when talking about Superfest and Benton Harbor's ongoing revitalization. "As each day goes by, getting down to Saturday, the anticipation is just awesome," Hampton says. "It's like a fire has ignited. People are asking questions, they're excited, they're looking forward to it." Organized by the city of Benton Harbor and Train to Rock N Roll City Productions, Superfest takes place Saturday and Sunday in the streets and park adjoining City Hall and Benton Harbor Public Library on East Wall Street. Blues musicians Corey Harris and Joe Willie "Pinetop" Perkins and Terrance Simien and the Zydeco Experience headline Saturday, and gospel singer Bobby Rennert headlines Sunday. "The idea behind it is to promote the spirit of Benton Harbor," TTRRC founder T.J. Kanczuzewski says. "The city commissioners want people to get the message that Benton Harbor is a growing and fun and exciting place, and they want people to come to Benton Harbor." Superfest joins such other organizations and initiatives as the New Territory Arts Association, the Benton Harbor Children's Arts Fair and The Livery nightclub as artistic components of Benton Harbor's renewal. "Benton Harbor has had a lot of incidents that have happened that have given it a bad reputation, but there's a lot of positive stuff coming out of Benton Harbor, a lot of good people who are trying to do a lot of good work for the community and a lot of musicians and artists (there)," Kanczuzewski says. "I hope we attract a diverse crowd. I hope to bring out citizens of Benton Harbor and have them mix and mingle with visitors from neighboring communities." Superfest took shape in February when Kanczuzewski met with several city commissioners as a result of contacts between them and his father's company, Inovateus Development, which does business in Benton Harbor. "It seemed like they have a couple of concerts that go on every year, but it seemed like a place that could really use a festival," he says of what spurred Superfest. "St. Joe has a lot of stuff going on at the lake, and I don't think many concert promoters have gone into Benton Harbor and noticed the opportunity, or they've been scared to do it or they don't want to do it because of racial issues. I saw it as an opportunity to do something different and help out the community." Hampton threw his support behind Superfest when he heard about it. "I think the message that comes from Superfest blends with what's happening in the arts district, and it's, 'Come one, come all,' " he says. "The real blend is happening in the hearts and minds of the people, and that's what we want." The arts, however, aren't the only thing undergoing renewal in Benton Harbor, which was rocked by fires and riots in June 2003. Since then, the Jimmy Carter Work Project built 100 homes in Benton Harbor in 2005, and a $479 million, 530-acre development known as Harbor Shores is progressing. When completed, The Tribune has reported, Harbor Shores will include a Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course and about 1,000 residential housing units and at least 200,000 square feet of commercial space, including retail, commercial arts and commercial entertainment. "As these events began to unfold, people really began to start to take part in buying into it," Hampton says of the city's renewal. "It's like a picture being painted. It's like a new garment being woven. The reanimation, the spirit behind what's going on, makes it all fit together. You've got the arts, the building, the waterways, the Jack Nicklaus golf course. All of that says something great is happening in our community, not just coming."